Top chef to appear in September food festival

Top chef, Nick Nairn, is gearing up to join celebrity chefs John Torode and Antony Worrall Thompson at Lichfield Food Festival, Staffordshire's newest food and drinks festival, which is taking place at the Lichfield Garrick and across Lichfield City on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 September 2012.

John Torode and Antony Worrall Thompson will be presenting cookery demonstrations in the Lichfield Garrick's Food Theatre, followed by book signings. Nick Nairn will host two free cookery demonstrations on Saturday 1 September at 10am and 12noon at Tippers in Britannia Business Park, Lichfield.

On top of appearances on Ready Steady Cook, Nick took part in the BBC's Great British Menu, and cooked the main course for The Queen's official 80th birthday celebration.

Nick Nairn said: "I am really excited to be part of such a prestigious festival. I will be cooking some of my favourite dishes, including a delicious hot raspberry soufflé. One of my passions is sharing the food that I cook and how I cook it and this gives me the perfect opportunity."

Tickets for John Torode and Antony Worrall Thompson are £25 each or £45 for both. Tickets to see Nick Nairn are free and will be issued on a first come first served basis. To book any of the celebrity chef cookery demonstrations, please call the Lichfield Garrick Box Office on 01543 412121.

Another exciting addition to the weekend festival is a free cookery demonstration in the Lichfield Garrick's Food Theatre by Adam Bennett, head chef at Simpsons in Birmingham, at 3pm on Sunday 2 September.

Adam will join a number of top local and regional chefs who will be cooking up a storm over the course of the weekend, including the Historical Cookery duo, Simon Smith and Professor Roland Rotherham.

Chef Paul Gilmore of Restaurant Gilmore, master bread maker Duncan Hindley from Hindleys bakery, chef Tommy Ho from the Ruby Chinese Restaurant, and chefs from Ristorante Sorrento, will also take to the stage over the weekend to present cookery demonstrations. The free demonstrations are open to all - just make sure you arrive in good time to secure your free seat.

Foodies are also invited to the Garrick's Food Studio, where producers will be showcasing regional produce and offering food tastings on Saturday and Sunday, from 10am to 5pm. Scott O'Hara will also be displaying a selection of his centerpiece sugar sculptures.

The theatre's Vineyard in the Sky, featuring local wine merchants, Worth Brothers, will offer wine connoisseurs the chance to sample and buy drinks from across the world over the weekend.

The Guildroom in Lichfield's Guildhall will get everyone in the party spirit with Lichfield Arts' Best of British Brewing festival, between 11am and 6pm over the festival weekend.

A special Sunday Farmers' Market will also take place from 10am to 4pm on Lichfield's Market Square.

Adrian Jackson, Lichfield Garrick's Artistic and Executive Director, commented: "Lichfield's first ever food festival is set to overtake the city with mouth-watering flavours and aromas. We're looking forward to all the gorgeous fine dining and drink sampling in what will be a celebration of our fantastic local food and produce."

The festival will involve venues across the city that will offer a range of delicious fixed price menus for just £10 a person, and tasting notes and offers on drinks as part of an Ale and Wine Trail.

"The weekend is such a celebration of food that it seemed only right to invite Lichfield's wealth of restaurants and bars to get involved," added Adrian.

Lichfield Food Festival is organised by the Lichfield Garrick and Lichfield District Council - with the help of local chef, Simon Smith, Lichfield City Council and Lichfield Arts.

2.30pm
Antony Worrall Thompson - celebrity chef demonstration
Celebrity Chef Antony Worrall Thompson is an accomplished TV presenter, broadcaster, author, cruise host and restaurateur. Antony's numerous TV credits include Ready Steady Cook, hosting ITV's Daily Cook's Challenge and appearing on The Wright Stuff. He has published more than 30 books and has written for a variety of papers including a regular recipe feature for the Sunday Express. Antony will demonstrate the art of culinary delight and will take questions from the audience after the interval. There will be a book signing in the Green Room immediately following the demonstration.

Special offer: Buy tickets for both Antony Worrall Thompson and John Torode demonstrations at the special price of £45 - call the Lichfield Garrick box office on 01543 412121 or visit http://www.lichfieldgarrick.com/

Sunday 2 September

11am
Historical Cookery with Simon Smith & Professor Roland Rotheram - free cookery demonstration
Dishes from liners, luxury and elegance. Why not commemorate the centenary of the loss of the RMS Titanic as Lichfield is the home of the statue to its captain Commander Edward John Smith. Turn back the clock to the days of supreme luxury and elegance, when sea travel was t